Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Ruby walked down to the water with Aurora. They’d left Haley with the guys. “How are you feeling?” Ruby asked. “When I was pregnant with Haley, I spent my entire first trimester over the toilet.”
“I feel all right. Not much nausea so far. Except for Max being a butthead, but that’s typical.”
They hadn’t had much chance to catch up since the post-wedding gathering. Ruby hadn’t been avoiding Aurora. Not consciously. There’d been so much going on. But now, Ruby regretted that they hadn’t talked.
She didn’t want to share what had happened yesterday with that car following them.
That had been too stressful. Devon was bound to find out about it, and he’d notice those guys from Bennett Security outside the building.
Assuming they hadn’t given him a courtesy call already.
But for the moment, Ruby just wanted to have a conversation that didn’t relate to Mickey’s murder or her arrest.
Aurora glanced back at the men. “You and Chase looked pretty cozy when we walked up.”
Ruby dipped her toes into the surf. “Did we?”
“Yep. You did.” Aurora was squinting at her. “How do you like being married?”
“It’s…” Hot? Because we gave each other monster orgasms last night? “I like having Chase around. Haley loves it, obviously. He’s great for lifting heavy boxes and taking out the trash.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yep. That’s it.”
“No other benefits to having a tall, charming Marine around?”
Ruby laughed. “Who said anything about charming?”
Aurora hummed like she’d heard something in Ruby’s voice.
Sitting on the beach towel, it had taken a lot of willpower not to kiss him. Even though she’d just made him agree not to kiss in front of Haley.
Now that she’d realized how attractive he was, it was impossible not to notice. But Chase was so sweet, too. Seeing him with Haley did something to the mom part of her brain. Ruby craved being naked with him again, but she also just wanted to touch him and be near him.
Which was an entirely new experience when it came to Chase.
And he’d had a crush on her for months? How had she not noticed?
“Anyway,” Ruby said, “what were you saying about Max being a butthead?”
“Just that big brothers can be so annoying. Getting in the way? Interrupting certain moments? If you know what I mean?”
“Not in the slightest.” Ruby smiled at her friend. “Quit fishing, Aurora.”
She made a show of looking around. “I’m just admiring the ocean views. There’s no fishing.”
“Right.”
They walked along the sand as the waves lapped at their feet. “I’ve been meaning to apologize,” Aurora said. “Devon and I shouldn’t have made the baby announcement on your wedding day. It had to be emotional for you, and I should’ve been more sensitive. I just couldn’t hold it in anymore, and—”
Ruby turned around to face her. “No, don’t be sorry. Our family needed good news. Really.”
Aurora bit her lip. “You sure?”
It did hurt, some. Remembering how hard her own pregnancy had been. That feeling of being abandoned and alone. But it wasn’t jealousy. Things would be different for Devon and Aurora, and she was so grateful for that.
“I’m thrilled for you guys. Devon is going to be an amazing dad, and Max will be a wonderful uncle. You’re going to be so tired of how sappy and sweet they are.”
Aurora wiped tears from her face. “I can’t wait. Watching you with Haley, I know that’s what I want. To be exactly the kind of mom that you are.”
“Ugh, stop. You’re going to make me cry too.”
They hugged and rocked back and forth.
“I just want you to be okay,” Aurora said.
“I will. Don’t worry about me, it’s annoying.”
“Right. You have a husband to take care of that now.”
“To take care of annoying me? Yeah, Chase already has that covered.” Though she didn’t mind his bossiness as much when it led to orgasms.
“He’s a good man. A really good man. I wouldn’t have let you marry him otherwise.”
“I know it. On both those counts.”
But she hadn’t known when they’d gotten married just how sexy he was. How amazing it would feel to give him control during sex, even when she demanded independence in every other aspect of her life.
And now Aurora was grinning at her like she could see these thoughts on Ruby’s face. “Just how good a man is he?”
“Shush.” Ruby kicked water at her. “If you say one word to Devon…”
“About what? I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about.” They kept walking, and Aurora’s bright smile could’ve lit up the sky if the sun wasn’t already shining. “I just hope you’re having as much fun as Devon and I did when we first got together.”
Not taking the bait, she thought.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you. What happened to the curtain rod in the bathroom at Chase’s house?” Ruby asked.
Aurora burst out laughing. “I’ll only tell you if you spill the details about what you and Chase have been up to.”
Ruby shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
They went back home in time for Haley’s nap. Once the baby was in her crib with the door closed, Ruby found Chase grinning at her mischievously.
“What should we do now?” he asked.
“I have a few ideas.”
They rushed into the living room, all fumbling limbs as they pushed each other toward the couch. Chase’s mouth collided with hers.
They made out for a while, Ruby in his lap. She tugged off his shirt, and he took off her cover-up. They were both in their swimsuits, which was faintly ridiculous, but also kind of hot.
Ruby’s hands traced over the curves of his pecs and abs, noticing all the details of him that had done nothing for her before, yet now made her body flush with heat.
Chase was bigger than Mickey had been, not as wiry and lean. She hadn’t known bulky muscles could be so sexy. His skin was smooth, and she liked touching it. Kissing it.
Chase’s body was like a map of a place she’d been before, yet she’d never really stopped to see it. And now that she was seeing it, she wanted to curl up and stay here.
Well, stay for now. Until they’d both gotten what they needed. And then, after it was finished, they’d share this naughty little secret that they could laugh about later.
She sat to one side of him on the couch. “Show me your tattoo.”
Chase rolled his eyes, but he stood up. His cock was half-hard in his swim trunks.
He turned around, holding his arms out. “Go ahead.”
Ruby stuck her fingers in his waistband and tugged the trunks down.
His left butt cheek had a tattoo of a blue anchor with a red heart around it.
“Oh. My. God. It’s so cute. Because you loved the Marines so much?”
“Who knows? I was drunk when I picked it.”
“It could’ve been much worse.”
“No doubt.”
Another meaning for the tattoo occurred to her. A heart weighed down by something heavy. She hoped it didn’t hold that meaning for Chase.
She pinched his cheek, then leaned forward to smack a kiss on the tattoo. “There. You can’t say I never kiss your ass.” It was a fine ass, too. Round and firm.
Chase tugged up his trunks. “Now I have to kiss yours. Wouldn’t be fair otherwise.” He grabbed her. They fell back onto the couch, wrestling and laughing. He pinned her down, yanked up her swimsuit over one butt cheek, and planted his lips there.
“Ow! That’s not a kiss, that’s a hickey!”
But it didn’t really hurt. She liked it. Liked the idea that Chase was marking her as his, even if the bruise would fade.
He let her go, and she rolled over. They made out until Ruby started cracking up again.
“What’s so funny now?” Chase asked.
“I don’t even know. I’m just…happy, I guess. I like this.”
The look he gave her was more tenderness than heat. He touched his knuckle to her chin. “I like this, too. A lot.”
“I was just thinking that we’ll have a naughty secret whenever this ends, but Aurora might’ve already guessed what we’re doing.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t confirm anything. She’s not going to tell Devon.”
“You sure? This is private, and I feel justified keeping it from him, but he’s not going to be happy if he finds out. He was already weird about us getting married.”
“Then he can keep his opinions to himself. But talking to Aurora reminded me of something else. I really can’t afford to get pregnant again. We have to be careful.”
Chase’s ears were starting to color. “We don’t even have to…we can keep doing other things. If you don’t want to take the risk.”
It was adorable how flustered he was, yet last night his dirty mouth had been shameless. “I want you to fuck me. But we’ll need condoms because I don’t have any.” She was on the pill to regulate her cycle, but she’d been on the pill when she’d gotten pregnant with Haley, too.
“That’s easy enough to fix. I didn’t bring any with me when I moved in. That would’ve been presumptuous.”
“Neither of us planned for this.”
“That’s for sure.”
But sometimes the best things weren’t planned. This was one of her mantras, a truth that had given her hope through her pregnancy. But that didn’t mean she should be reckless about having another baby. She couldn’t possibly deal with a complication like that at the moment.
Or ever, when it came to Chase. This marriage had an end date, even if they didn’t know the exact timing yet.
“I do want you to fuck me. Not tonight. But soon.”
Chase smiled slowly. “It can be whenever you decide.” He kissed her neck. “But you’ll have to be good and do what I say.”
“And what if I don’t?”
“I just might have to make you.” Chase rocked his hard-on against her.
A thrill of desire zapped along her spine. Last night with Chase, she’d enjoyed giving in. But maybe resisting him would be just as much fun.
Ruby’s phone rang, and she groaned. “Dang it.” She’d kept the volume turned down so it wouldn’t wake Haley, but that ring tone was unmistakable. Jane’s number had a special notification, so Ruby would always know the call or text was from her lawyer.
Reluctantly, she got out from underneath him and went to pick up.
“Hi, Jane.”
“Ruby, I have news. It’s not good.”
She steeled herself. “What is it? Did something happen in my case?”
Chase walked over and stood beside her, arms crossed as he listened.
“Not the criminal one. My friend who’s representing you on the custody matter? She sent me a document that was just filed with the family court. She asked me to prepare you before she gives you a call.”
“This is about Haley?”
Chase put his arm around her.
“Yes,” Jane said. “Mickey’s mother has asked for placement. That means she’s requested temporary custody of Haley. If the court grants her request, it would be immediate.”
Ruby closed her eyes, lip trembling. “She can do that?”
“As a grandparent in this type of case, yes. She can try. Mrs. Waverley also requested visitation, which the court is highly likely to grant. Obviously, it would be without you present. Your bail conditions prevent you from being anywhere near Mickey’s immediate family members.”
“They want to see Haley without me there? No. No way. They don’t even know her. I’ve never even met them.” Panic was rising up like an ocean wave inside her, threatening to drag her under.
“I know, Ruby. But Chase is her step-father now. The court will probably allow him to be there.”
Chase rested his cheek against her hair. Having him there helped her to breathe. “When is all this going to happen?”
“Probably soon. My friend will call you to discuss the process. She’s the expert in this field. But I wanted you to know I’m here for you, however I can be. Not just as your lawyer but as your friend. Okay? Whatever you need.”
“We both know what I need.” What if the family court took Haley away from her before her criminal case had even gotten to trial? “What I need is to prove that I’m innocent! So they can’t do this to me.”
“And I’m working on that. I just need you to be—”
“Jane, don’t you dare tell me to be patient.”
“You’re right. I won’t. So I’ll just say that I’m getting back to work. I’ll talk to you soon.” She ended the call.
Ruby dropped her phone to her side.
“We’re not letting them take Haley.” Chase probably hadn’t heard every word Jane had said, but clearly he’d heard enough.
“If Mickey’s family gets to visit Haley, will you be there? I need you to be there. They’re strangers. She might be…scared.”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay.” The panic was receding. “Okay.”
Ruby didn’t know Mickey’s family. Maybe they weren’t bad people. They were probably heartbroken over losing him, especially in such a traumatic way.
Maybe they even deserved a role in Haley’s life.
But right now, they believed Ruby was a killer.
If she’d been in their place, would she have stopped at anything to get Haley away?